SECOND COMMITTEE APPROVES PROGRAMME OF WORK; PREPARES TO TAKE UP NEW AGENDA ITEMS, INCLUDING GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS, BEST PRACTICES FOR POVERTY ERADICATION

Sixtieth General Assembly

Second Committee

1^st Meeting (AM)

SECOND COMMITTEE APPROVES PROGRAMME OF WORK; PREPARES TO TAKE UP NEW AGENDA ITEMS,

INCLUDING GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS, BEST PRACTICES FOR POVERTY ERADICATION

The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) this morning approved, as orally amended, its programme of work for the sixtieth session of the General Assembly.

In his introductory remarks, Committee Chairman Aminu Bashir Wali ( Nigeria) welcomed the other members of the new Bureau, which was elected on 13 June.  They include Vice-Chairpersons Selwin Charles Hart ( Barbados), Juraj Koudelka ( Czech Republic) and Stefano Toscano ( Switzerland), as well as Rapporteur Abdulmalik Alshabibi ( Yemen).

According to the organization of work (document A/C.2/60/L.1), the Committee would focus on macroeconomic policy questions, including those directed at the international financial system, debt and trade; humanitarian and disaster relief assistance; follow-up to and implementation of the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development; and information and communication technologies.

The Committee would also consider permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources; globalization and interdependence; implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), and strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT); sustainable development; operational activities for development; groups of countries in special situations; eradication of poverty and other development issues; and training and research.

In addition, the Committee would take up, for the first time, items allocated by the General Assembly on global partnerships; evaluation of links between Headquarters and field activities:  a review of best practices for poverty eradication in the framework of the United Nations Millennium Declaration; and in-depth evaluation of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme.

During the meeting, the Committee heard statements by the representatives of the United States, Jamaica (on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China), United Kingdom (on behalf of the European Union) and Benin.

The Second Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Monday, 3 October, to begin its general debate.

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For information media • not an official record